Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Fire Dragon Immortal burst into wild laughter and leaped outside. In an instant, she compressed dozens of paces into a single bound, flying toward the battlefield like a shooting star, intercepting Gongson Byeok's final strike aimed at Jang Gwa-ro.

Clang!!

Gongson Byeok recognized the interceptor as the frail boy who had been at Jang Gwa-ro's side just moments ago, his face twisting in confusion. But then, as his sword clashed with the Fire Dragon Divine Sword and fierce flames wrapped around it, leaping onto his body, he cried out in terror.

"Urk!!"

He hurriedly released his longsword, channeling his internal energy to extinguish the flames, but the fire clinging to his fingertips refused to extinguish. With no other choice, Gongson Byeok gritted his teeth and severed two of his fingers with a hand blade. Only then did the flames finally fall away. His self-mutilation startled Yi Gun-ak at his side.

"House Lord Gongson!!"

"Urgh... Who the hell are you?"

Gongson Byeok roared in fury, and Fire Dragon Immortal spoke through Yeo Dong-bin's body.

She charged like lightning, this time targeting Yi Gun-ak. He calmly raised his spear into a defensive stance as she unfolded her sword aura. In a flash, their clash filled the space with probing strikes and tense exchanges. But soon, Yi Gun-ak realized with horror that his exquisite maneuvers had been read by Fire Dragon Immortal.

Boom!!

They had barely exchanged three moves when the surge of energy she unleashed hurled Yi Gun-ak's body high into the sky. He wasn't mortally wounded, but the backlash from being overpowered in a full-force duel left blood trickling from his mouth.

"Khk."

Fire Dragon Immortal didn't stop there. She flowed like a dancer, pressing her elegant assault on Gongson Byeok. He concentrated his internal energy to an extreme degree, drawing the flexible sword from his waist to meet her sword aura. This time, with his spirit, energy, and power perfectly unified, the flames did not transfer to his blade, and they clashed in proper exchanges.

Clang.

Clang clang.

Unlike Yi Gun-ak, Gongson Byeok wielded highly refined techniques, holding his own even against Fire Dragon Immortal's ultimate strikes. As I observed the Gongson Swordsmanship he displayed, I noticed something off.

That's right... It's different from the Gongson Swordsmanship that Zhuge Yuryong used!

In theory, the Gongson Swordsmanship performed by Zhuge Yuryong and Gongson Byeok should be identical. Even accounting for the passage of time, it was the same art.

Yet it was different.

Different enough that any expert could sense it at a glance.

Zhuge Yuryong's version had been a near-perfect transcendent sword art, but the ultimate technique Gongson Byeok now unleashed felt profoundly distinct. I racked my brain trying to pinpoint the sensation, but no clear answer came. It was undeniably different—why, though? Feeling my own lack of talent acutely in such a moment left me frustrated.

Boom!!

But Gongson Byeok couldn't hold out long against Fire Dragon Immortal either. After barely twenty exchanges, he exposed a fatal flaw, and she inflicted a mortal wound with a single thrust.

Slash.

Blood sprayed as Gongson Byeok staggered back, clutching his chest in disbelief, coughing up blood.

"Heuk... Hah... Impossible... My martial arts are the world's greatest... unrivaled under heaven..."

Fire Dragon Immortal sneered at his words.

[How dare one who hasn't even reached the Absolute Realm claim to be unrivaled under heaven? You mistake the profundity of transcendent swordsmanship for true strength, but your skill is far inferior to that Yi Gun-ak over there.]

"...Heuk... This can't..."

Thud.

Overcome with rage, Gongson Byeok vomited blood and collapsed on the spot. He wasn't dead yet, but it was clear he soon would be. Fire Dragon Immortal glanced coolly at Yi Gun-ak, who looked down at Gongson Byeok with surprising composure.

"House Lord Gongson's plan has failed..."

[What, talking like it's someone else's business? I'll finish you next.]

"Let's call it quits."

[What?]

Yi Gun-ak crossed his arms and said,

"I'm here solely on the Cult Leader's orders to support House Lord Gongson to the utmost as a Protector. Personally, I have no reason to get further involved, nor any need to fight more."

[Who decided that?]

Swish.

Yi Gun-ak suddenly drew something from his bosom. I instantly recognized the small ritual implement in his hand.

'A Vajra Scepter?'

Crackle crackle.

"If you won't let me go, then I, Yi Gun-ak, as a master of the Thunder God Style, have no choice but to give my all..."

A tremendous bolt of lightning surged from the Vajra Scepter. Fire Dragon Immortal watched, then remarked curtly.

[Impressive power latent within. Is that a treasure?]

"No. This is the origin of the Four Great Martial Styles... and in our Thunder God Style, proof of our reverence for the Thunder God - Vajra."

Answering Fire Dragon Immortal's question, Yi Gun-ak continued,

"If I use this Vajra, I can summon the Thunder God's power. Neither of us will escape unscratched. I propose we both withdraw."

[Hmph. Very well.]

Surprisingly, Fire Dragon Immortal—who had seemed ready to slay Yi Gun-ak on the spot—backed off readily. She must have sensed the Vajra's power was no ordinary force. As Yi Gun-ak reached to carry Gongson Byeok away, she fired a sword beam, forcing him to retreat awkwardly.

"I need to treat House Lord Gongson."

[Let him die.]

"...Understood."

With no choice, Yi Gun-ak left the cave alone. Soon after, Fire Dragon Immortal healed the fallen Jang Gwa-ro and Jong Ri-gwon. Upon seeing her, they started in shock and, without a word, prostrated themselves in grand bows.

"We greet the Immortal!"

"We greet the Immortal!"

[Rise.]

Jang Gwa-ro, visibly flustered, said,

"We knew from the Heavenly Realm that this mission was critical... but we never imagined the Fire Dragon Immortal would descend with the Divine Sword."

Jang Gwa-ro clearly addressed her with utmost respect. Fire Dragon Immortal replied coldly to his words.

[The Heavenly Realm hasn't changed. Jang Gwa-ro, even as an Earth Immortal, you're sent out without a word of explanation.]

"Why have you come from the Heavenly Realm to the mortal world?"

[...]

Fire Dragon Immortal ignored the question and changed the subject.

[What do you plan to do with this child, Yeo Dong-bin, now?]

"We intend to have her adopted into a prosperous commoner's family, where she can live a peaceful and happy life. As an orphan, she's suffered too long..."

[Don't talk nonsense.]

"Pardon?"

As Jang Gwa-ro questioned, Fire Dragon Immortal crossed her arms and said,

[This child has already endured countless killings on the battlefield, imprinting a demonic visage upon her soul. She possesses the finest qualities of a warrior, but it's a double-edged sword. Entrust her to common folk, and she won't endure it—she'll turn to villainy or fall to the demonic path. She's not fated for an ordinary life. Your actions would only bring more chaos to the world.]

"What will you do, then?"

[I will raise this child, Yeo Dong-bin, as my disciple.]

"...!!"

Jang Gwa-ro and Jong Ri-gwon exchanged stunned glances. Jong Ri-gwon scratched his head and said,

"Th-that... I've never heard of such a thing. Your status in the Heavenly Realm is practically at the pinnacle, yet taking not even a Great Thunder Immortal but a mere human boy as a disciple?"

[Huhu! Pinnacle? What pinnacle? From the Three Pure Ones and Queen Mother of the West down, they all shun me, the incarnation of the Responsive Dragon.]

"Uh, well..."

At Fire Dragon Immortal's sarcasm, Jong Ri-gwon faltered for a reply. Jang Gwa-ro calmly interjected from the side.

"Jong Ri-gwon's words aren't wrong. Becoming your disciple would elevate his generation to Earth Immortal level or higher in an instant, granting unrestricted access to countless powerful Heavenly Realm spells. But it would also invite immense jealousy."

[Jealousy?]

"Even now, countless Daoists on the Central Plains Continent grind their bones and flesh aspiring for ascension. They won't tolerate your disciple. Nor will the Great Thunder Immortals of the heavens. You're far above an ordinary one, after all."

[Hm...]

"That's not the path for the child..."

Fire Dragon Immortal seemed to find merit in Jang Gwa-ro's argument. Then Jong Ri-gwon from the side proposed,

"How about this? Take Yeo Dong-bin as my disciple first and have her train in basic Dao meridian cultivation for a time."

[What do you mean?]

"For a year or so, observe her fundamental character and talent as preparation to become your disciple. If I report my detailed observations of Yeo Dong-bin to the Heavenly Realm, they should acknowledge her as your disciple."

[Hm? And who are you?]

Fire Dragon Immortal pierced right to the point, turning Jong Ri-gwon's face ashen.

"Ugh... Even if I look like this, I'm the chief disciple of Dao Xing Tianzun among the Twelve Kunlun Immortals. And though I haven't ascended yet, I've received a treasure. If I ask Dao Xing Tianzun, he'll surely agree."

[Hmm... Very well.]

With that, the matter was settled for now. Soon, before sending Yeo Dong-bin away with Jong Ri-gwon, Fire Dragon Immortal headed to the cave. Manifesting her spirit body before Yeo Dong-bin, she said,

[Yeo Dong-bin. Leaving you solely in that fool's care feels uneasy. In ordinary times, it might be fine, but this era of ten thousand demons, with heavenly principles warped and chaos rampant, leaves your body protected only by yourself.]

"Thank you for your concern."

[Thus, I will now impart the Heavenly Stealth Swordsmanship to you.]

After a brief silence, Fire Dragon Immortal continued.

[I grew bored of the Heavenly Realm and descended for an outing, crafting the Fire Dragon Divine Sword to exorcise demons. While wandering the world slaying yokai, I discovered the tomb of Overlord Xiang Yu and obtained his family swordsmanship.]

"Initial Overlord!"

[It was the finest I'd ever seen—likely a secret sword art of the Chu royal house. But Xiang Yu's innate strength was so overwhelming that he never refined it further, leaving it incomplete.]

Yeo Dong-bin caught the implication.

"You refined Xiang Yu's family swordsmanship, Fire Dragon Immortal."

[Indeed. It took about a century to perfect it as the Heavenly Stealth Swordsmanship.]

Replying with a touch of pride, Fire Dragon Immortal added,

[But before it reached completion, I encountered an immensely powerful yokai. Though I defeated it, my spirit body was wounded, forcing me to reside in the Divine Sword. During that time, strange rumors of the Heavenly Stealth Swordsmanship spread through the jianghu.]

"I see."

[The Heavenly Stealth Swordsmanship I impart now comprises 96 forms. It is the heaven-subduing, earth-annihilating sword of ultimate devastation—the Overlord's blade! Master it, and none in the jianghu will match you.]

Fire Dragon Immortal then spent three days transmitting the Heavenly Stealth Swordsmanship to Yeo Dong-bin. To recover her strength, she returned to the Fire Dragon Divine Sword and fell into slumber, while Yeo Dong-bin departed Mount Ye with Jong Ri-gwon.

For the next two years, Yeo Dong-bin trained in spells under Jong Ri-gwon but showed almost no talent for them. Surprisingly, incidents and accidents never ceased around her. In just two years, she fought yokai for her life over twenty times, clashed in life-or-death duels with martial organizations five times, and rescued hostages or commoners dozens of times—leaving no time for cultivation whatsoever.

One day, Jong Ri-gwon lamented with a scream.

"Dong-bin, were you born under a curse of misfortune? Why do mishaps never end? No matter how skilled I am, I'm still just a Great Thunder Immortal's disciple, an unascended Daoist. I'll die at this rate!"

"Yet Master always helps me."

"Damn it..."

Yet amid that brutal gauntlet, Yeo Dong-bin honed the Heavenly Stealth Swordsmanship in real combat, surviving through her innate talent and the demonic visage's reflective instincts. In the end, Jong Ri-gwon, utterly exasperated, developed a spell called "One Thought of Universal Peace and Safety, Tireless Courageous Diligence on the Path," finally granting some respite.

Examining Yeo Dong-bin's memories, I was floored.

'Heavens... In just two years, her martial prowess rose from zero to Upper Peak Expert level?'

It defied common sense. Even in battle, Yeo Dong-bin had evolved the Heavenly Stealth Swordsmanship over ten times on her own.

The only comparable growth I'd witnessed was Jin So-cheong's. Admittedly, Yeo Dong-bin's raw talent might not quite match his, but she was a sword demon. Though her brief training left her internal energy lacking, the superiority of the Heavenly Stealth Swordsmanship ensured victory against strong foes, and her ferocious combat instincts snatched improbable triumphs.

When the promised period ended, Yeo Dong-bin formally became Fire Dragon Immortal's disciple. From then on, she learned the Heavenly Stealth Swordsmanship properly from her master, accelerating her growth even further—to the point where she felt stronger every time she woke from sleep.

Three years later, convinced her skill rivaled the world's top Peak Experts, Yeo Dong-bin set out in earnest to exorcise the yokai plaguing the realm. The night before departing, she told Fire Dragon Immortal,

"I'll undertake this exorcism journey at Master's request, but my goal is fame and glory. Once I've slain a few great yokai and stabilized the world, I'll pursue my own path."

[Your own path? How do you wish to live?]

"I'll found the World's Supreme Sect, become the mightiest in the martial world, wed the world's greatest beauty, bask in wealth and honor, and live happily ever after."

Indeed.

Through countless trials, Yeo Dong-bin's ambitions remained unchanged. He was still the ambitious man who sought riches and glory in the turbulent world, wielding his prowess as his weapon. Her confident, unflinching declaration even drew laughter from Fire Dragon Immortal.

[Hahaha. Do as you will. You just might.]

Fire Dragon Immortal added softly,

[But... your heart will change.]

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